The European External Action Service (EEAS) has been tasked with looking at the EU’s Association Agreement with Israel, which enshrines respect for human rights and democratic principles as “an essential element” underpinning cooperation between the two. A broad coalition of 17 EU member countries, led by the Netherlands, pushed for the review — which will be presented at a meeting of foreign affairs ministers on June 23.
Four diplomats, granted anonymity to speak frankly about the process, said pressure is growing on the European Commission to bring forward proposals that would see ties in areas like trade downgraded if Israel is found to be in breach of those provisions.
Traditionally staunch allies of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government — like German Chancellor Friedrich Merz — have broken ranks in recent weeks to criticize the scale of destruction in Gaza and the growth of West Bank settlements.
“The mood is shifting on the EU’s response to Gaza,” said one diplomat, citing pressure from capitals to present a list of options in response. “Positions are clearly shifting and that creates a dynamic where there could be more opportunities to take action,” said a second.
While upending the Association Agreement would require the unanimous support of all 27 member countries and would come up against resistance from the likes of Hungary and the Czech Republic, officials are eyeing alternative moves that could scale back parts of the pact and would only need a qualified majority vote.
“We need to take decisions by a majority, by qualified majority, or by unity,” Costa said of the Council’s deliberations process. “We should wait for the assessment and then discuss what kind of decision we want to take and what kind of majority we need to take the decision.”
